OUR TEAM

Executive Director

David Levitus founded LA Forward with a group of his fellow Angelenos to build the progressive power we need to create a just, vibrant Los Angeles.

David got his start in politics and policy during his time as an undergraduate at New York University, where he majored in History and Economics. After working to advance renters’ rights in NYC and to shift U.S. foreign policy in DC, he moved to Los Angeles to earn a Ph.D. in History at the University of Southern California, where he focused on patterns of metropolitan development and political power over the last century.

During grad school, his volunteer work in social justice organizing and policy advocacy led him to pursue a career making change from the ground up.

Our members are concentrated in LA City Council districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, and 14, as well as the cities of Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood, Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, and some of the small cities of the western part of the San Gabriel Valley and the southeastern part of the County.

LA Forward Structure and Status

Our family of organizations is devoted to fighting for a more progressive Los Angeles, California, and nation.

LA Forward is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the educational arm of the LA Forward family of organizations. Its mission is to defend and extend economic justice, human rights, and corporate and political accountability through public education, strategic research, and innovative leadership-development training. Contributions to LA Forward are TAX DEDUCTIBLE within IRS guidelines.

LA Forward Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting progressive policy, holding electeds accountable, and building coalition across Los Angeles. This designation allows LA Forward to advocate for legislation and influence the decisions of our elected leaders. It also means that contributions to LA Forward Action are NOT tax deductible.

A "member" of LA Forward is defined as any person who has participated in at least one online action with LA Forward. Members are generally contacted by LA Forward based on their expression of interest in specific issues or categories. We carefully guard our members’ information and do not sell or use any data for commercial purposes.

We’re aiming to raise $5,000 a month in recurring donations by September 2019. That will enable us to be truly independent and accountable to people like you — not cautious foundations.

Can you help us get there?

Your gift allows us to respond rapidly to emerging issues, to take on powerful interests, and to be truly independent.

Join us!

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This is the website of LA Forward, a 501c3 nonprofit. We do not coordinate with political parties or candidate campaigns in any circumstances. Our affiliated 501c4 nonprofit, LA Forward Action, does occasionally endorse, support, and oppose candidates. We are not associated with any other groups that include Forward in their name — read more about this.